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About Us

Who is Chris "the Doc" Ingrassia
Chris (owner of the famed Mustang Restoration, Inc in East Dundee, IL) has been breathing Mustangs for over 30 years and still has the passion; one that hard to miss. Speak with him for only five minutes and you will immediately realize why he is sought after from every corner of the world. His enthusiasm is infectious and if you didn't already have a classic Mustang before you spoke with him, you will want one right after.

Through experiencing first hand Mustang "issues" and having to come up with ways to solve, Chris has developed more than a few solutions, the most exciting of which is the TankTop. Seeing that there was a great need, and no one doing it, Chris develped the TankTop and now the Mustang restoration community can't get enough. It makes perfect sense and is so easy to install. Dealers are encouraged to get in touch, as is anyone else who has any questions about the TankTop, Mustang Restoration, Inc or any other Mustang related questions.

The Shop
Mustang Restoration, Inc. is located in East Dundee, IL. The shop is over 30,000 square feet of classic Mustang magic. There are separate areas for bodywork, Painting (in-house paint booth), mechanical functions, installation, final assembly, showroom and offices.

All the bodywork is done in one massive area where some of the area\'s premiere artists practice their craft. Body panels go from rough, crinkled messes to wrinkle free, smooth planes. Here is NOT where you are going to find a half inch of bondo being used to straighten that panel. Unbelievable skill is used every day to get the surrounding body as straight as possible, without the aids of fillers and heavy primers. As those who are experienced in this subject well knows, these are the types of quality pre-paint jobs which are necessary to win awards.

There is painting and then there is applying a superior deep and glossy coating of color to a meticulously smooth finish. Mustang Restoration, Inc. achieve the later through the use of incredible, time honed skill and modern, cutting edge technology. The renaissance had Mc Alangelo, the 50s had Picasso and the classic Mustang community has Chris “the Doc” Ingrassia and the crew at Mustang Restoration, Inc. There are no rented paint booths, no color being shot on wet driveways or parking lots and you will NOT get your ‘stang back within three days. Every technique is applied, then reapplied. Adequate amounts of time is scheduled to allow for proper chemical dispersement and therefore superior color retention. Award winning finishes are not just what we “shoot” for, its what we do every day. If you are looking for a quick and inexpensive paint job, you will not find it here. If you want a quality, award winning finishes then you are in for a treat.

Say your baby needs muffler, brake or interior work, as opposed to bodywork or paint. Then she would come into the Mechanical Functions area where she would undergo the operation that she needs, by skilled classic Mustang surgeons. Each vehicle is cared for as if they were the property of the employees and great care is taken through each step of each procedure. There is enough space within the facility to have a dozen restorations/procedures going on at the same time which makes viewing the action on the MRV Live Shop Feed so entertaining!

Installation is a cleaner and more detail oriented area where most vehicles go when the body and paint have been completed and its time for reassembly. It is here where customers get very excited as they start to see their babys’ coming back to life and see glimpses of what their stangs will look like when they are complete and ready to shine. Not only is care placed on the quality of products which go back into the Mustangs, but with work around newly applied finishes. You will notice that Chris (Ingrassia – Owner) will not be seen in the shop without his trademark white lab coat and gloves. It may seem odd, but the later stages (areas) of the shop more closely resemble an operating room than a mechanic’s shop. The gloves come out and the finishes stay dazzling!

When the vehicle rolls into Final Assembly owners are usually chomping at the bit in anticipation to be able to gaze at their prize. Some customers want Chris to place their Mustang in front of “the Stream” so they can catch a glimpse of it. Others really revel in the fact that they will see their much-loved stang the moment they walk into the shop, and not a moment sooner. Either way customers want to handle it, the outcome is still the same – amazing Mustangs turned over to extremely appreciative customers. And all the final magic happens here in Final Assembly.

The Showroom is the room which has the power to change a grown man into a slobbering, dreamy boy. It is in the Showroom where Chris proudly displays vehicles in his own personal collection including about half dozen movie cars he has purchased and restored and the Mustangs he keeps for his own enjoyment. At the top of the “Unique” scale must be the black Mustang limousine he created out of two 1965 coupes! This one-of-a-kind limo draws so much attention that friends, customers, fans and site visitors demand he put it on display. Included in “the Doc’s” collection is one of the 4 Starsky and Hutch Torinos (signed), the Taxi car (Queen Latifah), the XXX car (Vin Diesel), a spotless Bricklin as well as a few others in the works!

So, when in the area stop in, say Hi and ask to take a look. Chris will do what he always does.. smile, take a break and take you for the tour. He gets visitors from all over the country who come to “window shop”. If you have a deep appreciation for classic Mustangs then Mustang Restoration, Inc is a haven you MUST visit. Let the Doc know you're coming. He will leave a bay door open for you.